Key machine



March 3, 1936. Q E. TURRELL KEY MACHINEy Filed Feb. l, 1935 /A/vfA/To@ Cif/Amas E Emu-L M Troy/Veys Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNl'l`E STA'EEAS FATENT OFFICE KEY MACHINE Application February 1, 1935, Serial No. 4,451

11 Claims.

This invention, as indicated, relates to key machines. More particularly, it comprises an apparatus adapted to duplicate or replace any particular key in common use, as Well as an improved method of key replacement. The apparatus is simple in character and yet is convertible readily for work on key blanks Whether 'of the cylinder lock type, single or two-sided, as

carried on by a rotary file, or for flat or household key work wherein a disk saw cuts the desired 1w notches. In each of these instances, under the ordinary operation of the apparatus, a guiding member registers against the key being duplicated. The apparatus not only includes the special features stated, but is adapted to produce duplicates, or what, perhaps, should more properly be called replacements, of what are known as co-de keys, now commonly used in places where a large equipment of keys is essential, as for example, for hotel rooms, for automobiles, and for innumerable other uses.

For code key replacement a series of adjustments are necessary for the depth of cut for each key being manufactured as well as the use of a selected spacing guide key to register the place of each cut along the key length.

The present invention provides a guide housing and control permitting either the customary practice of key duplication or replacement of the key 39 from the key number, thus providing for replacement of a key wherein the key itself has been lost,

but the key number preserved, or checked from other available sources.

'I'he principal object of the present invention is :is to provide an improved multi-purpose key duplicating or replacement machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of key replacement from code key data as for example when the original key has been lost.

" Afurther object of the invention is to provide improved means for positioning the key blank and the original or guide key in the clamping member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide or registry device which is convertible to l" different types of key duplication as well as for code key replacement,

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description. y To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means and methods hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means and methods embodying the invention, such disclosed means and methods constituting, however, but several of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure l is a perspective View showing an appa- 5 ratus embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, showing an'original 10 key serving as a guide and a key blank in course of cutting;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 3, showing a twosided spacing key and a two-sided replacement key in course of cutting;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the guide control head;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the guide control member with the alternative guide tips in separated relation;

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longi- 25 tudinal view partly in section of a portion of the guide control head mechanism;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 8, taken along the line 9 9, shown in Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a disk saw member and supporting elements ready for use in place of a rotary file;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of an unmounted 35 disk saw member;

Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective View of one of the key vises, showing a registry plate;

Figure 13 is an end View of one of the key vises; and

Figure 14 is an end View of a key vise provided with a registry arm.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, the apparatus comprises a base plate I having a clamp bracket 2 on the under side thereof, the bracket having a clamping screw 3 by means of which it may be secured to a table or other place of support.

The base plate I has a pair of bosses 4, 5, adja-l cent its forward side portion providing supports and bearings for a supporting bar 6 upon which the carriage or work-holding frame 1 is engaged by means of an elongated securing sleeve 8 provided at one end of said frame and having a set Vscrew 9 to hold the frame in clamped adjustment on the bar 6.

At the opposite end of the frame, a pair of key vises I I, I2, are provided, said vises being mounted on short extensions of the frame adjacent the cornersrthereof. The key vises are substantially duplicate structures comprising, as shown in enlarged detail in Figures 12 to 14- inclusive, an enlarged body member I 3, supported on the frame extension I4, andhaving a notch or groove I5 completely across said body adjacent one side edge of the top portion of said body and having a cut away area at the opposite side edge of said body forming a shoulder I6 on the side face. Adjacent the shoulder I 5 `a registry plate Il is provided, said plate Vbeing pivoted at one end upon a pin I8 mounted on the front face of the key vise below the shoulder so that the plate may be moved to registry position with its upper` operative edge I9 projecting slightly above the shoulder I6. A stop pin2I on the outer face of the key vise opposite the pivot pin engages the edgelof a cut away portion of the registry plate, when it is moved to registry position, to properly locate the same. The registry plate is preferably also formed with a cut away portion immediately above the pivot pin, thus allowing the projecting central upper edge portion full freedom to properly engage the slot .or groove of a cylinder lock key before clamping the key in the` vise. Y

The registry plate is released after the key is clamped in the vise so as not to interfere with the key'cutting operations. As is shown more y particularly in- Figure 14, a registry arm 22 may be'v mounted on a pivot pin 23 at the end of the key vise and thus provide for the registry .before clamping'iof a key or ,key blank having no back shoulder. The registry arm is likewise released to ha-ngfree f o-n itspivot pin after the key or keyblank is properly clamped in the vise.

The clamping member of the vise preferably is inthe form-'of an inverted iianged plate 24 centrally apertured to receive the,v shank of the clamping screw 25 of the'vise. The flanges of the plate are preferably differently shaped so as to engage different-kinds of keys andl key blanks more effectively. Thusoneiiange 26 is preferably made with parallel-innerand outer faces and a wide lower edge, while the companion flange 2'I is formed with a straight inner face and a. downwardly beveled outer face providing a narrow lower edge. v

When a key of the cylinder lock type having serrations or indentations along one side is to be duplicated, the original key is engaged in the vise II with its rearward edge rmly seated against the back face of the clamping area with the back shoulder of the key against the left hand side of the vise, or where there is no back shoulder, with the forward shoulder in contact with the registry arm 22 preliminary to the clamping of the key through the engagement of the clamping member against the upper inner edge thereof. Where rthe key is of sufficient width, the broad clamping jaw or ange26is used. Where the -key is exceptionally narrow, the opposite body or iiange 2'IV is used, which provides greater range of cutting action. 'Ihe blank to be operated on isclampedin exactly the same manner as the originalkey being duplicated.

When the key to beV duplicated is a two-sided code Ykey, use is made of the registry plate II in order to properly locate Vthe key to be copiedinthe vise II, the plate being moved upwardly to engage the central groove-of the twosided key. Most two-sided keys present over the central groove an enlarged central rib, and in order to properly hold the key in position use is made of the narrow flange 2'I on the clamping member of the vise, such narrow clamping member being engaged against the adjacent portion of the key rearwardly of the rib, as satisfactory engagement of the two-sided key could not be made with the broader clamping edge of the iiange 26 by reason of the relative positions of the groove on the under side of the key and the margin of the upraised rib. While direct copying of a two-sided code key or any other two-sided key can be carried on with the apparatus, in most instances, where a code key is to be duplicated, it is reproduced from code data and not from an original code key. When a code key is being thus reproduced, there is clamped in the vise II a special spacing key wherein the indentations along the respective edge of the key are all of equal depth, but the spacing onv opposite sides of the key differs from each other. The manipulation of the guide control member of the apparatus when a code key-is to be replaced will be later described in detail.

On the under side of the carriage'frame I a handle 28 is provided whereby the pair of vises with their respective key and key blank elements securely engaged thereon may be moved toward the cutting and guide members respectively. 'I'he original key is kept in alinement for each cut with the edge of the guide point presently tobe described and upon the rotation of the cutting element the key blank will be formed with a cut at the corresponding point on the key blank. The depth of the cut will be limited by the .actual contact of the original key margin with the guide point.

The cutting elements land supports and the guide control head will now be described. The base plate I is provided rearwardly of the bosses 4, 5, heretofore described, with standards, which may be formed integrally with the base plate or secured thereto by suitable fastening means. One of the standards 3|V provides at its upper end an elongated bearing 32 for a shaft 33 uponone end of whicha drive or power wheel 34 is secured and upon the other end of which the cutting eler ment 35 is secured,preferably by a clamping nut 36 engaging a. screw-threaded section at the end of the shaft. The cutting element shown in Figures l, 2, and 3 comprises a rotary iile, but there may be substituted on this shaft a disk saw"3`I such as is shown in Figures 10 and 11. When the disk saw is substituted for the rotary file, use is made of a spacing washer 40, as is shown in Figure 10, to bring the disk saw in the identical cutting plane of the rotary iile.

The. drive or power wheel 34 is shownas formed with a groove 38 to receive a belt or like driving element, and it may also' be provided with a handle 39 to provide for manual operation of the cutting elements.

The other standard 4I on the base plate I serves to support the guide control head 42 which includes a number of cooperating elements.

Preferably formed integrally with the standard 4I is a body member 43 having an end extension 44 and centrally apertured throughout to receive the guide control member 45. The guide control member as shown more particularly in Figures '7 and 8 is preferably made in two sections having relative axial rotation by reason of a slotted bearing in the forward section 46 receiving an undercut head 41 on the rearward section 48. An enlarged cut 49 in the side Wall of the slotted bearing permits easy engagement or separation of the sections.

The forward section 46 of the guide control member carries at its forward end an integral narrow guide tip I having parallel side faces and adapted for use in guiding the cutting of indentations in flat keys. A keyway 52 is provided in the top surface of the forward shaft section in alinement with the guide tip so as to maintain said guide tip with its front edge in vertical position. The keyway is engaged by the lower end of a guide screw 53 when the guide control member is engaged in the body member 43. The narrow guide tip 5I is centrally apertured to receive a locking screw 54 which serves to secure over the narrow guide tip a V-shaped guide tip 50. The body of the V-shaped guide tip 50 is slotted to snugly fit over the narrow guide tip and when the locking screw 54 is tightened, the V-shaped guide tip 50 becomes in effect a rigid part of the forward section 46 of the guide control member, and suitable for use as a guide when cylinder lock keys are to be formed.

The rearward section 48 of the guide control member is screw-threaded and is adapted to be securely engaged with an adjusting shell or sleeve 55 by means of a threaded aperture in its end wall 56 and held in adjusted position by means of a jam nut 51. A slot 60 at the end of the member 48 permits setting of the guide member in a predetermined operative relation to the remaining mechanism. The section 48 of the guide control member thus is moved when the sleeve 55 is turned. The screw-threads on the section 48 are engaged with screw-threads within the central aperture of the body member 43 and are thus made operative to shift the active guide tip. The forward margin of the shell is calibrated and provided with suitable reference markings and the extension 44 of the body member is correspondingly marked.

A recess 58 is formed in the upper surface of the extension 44 of the body member to receive a coil spring 59 which provides a friction brake on the under side of the shell to prevent too free rotation of the shell. The shell is also provided with a positive lock in each of two adjusted positions provided by a pin 6I adapted to engage one of two spaced apertures 62, 63, formed in the top face of the extension 44 of the body member, When the pin is placed in one of the apertures, for example aperture 63, the guide tip 5I will provide a limit stop for the depth of a cut when a fiat key is to be formed. When the tip 50 is in place, the shell 55 is rotated so as to bring the registering aperture through the shell in alinement with the pin aperture 62 thus compensating for the additional length of the tip.

The initial setting of the guide control member 45 is made by inserting a blank key of the same width and number in each of the vises II and I2 and loosening the jam nut 51 so as to permit the adjusting shell 55 to be freely turned on the screw-threaded rearward section 48 of the guide control member. The guide control member is then shifted by means of a screw-driver inserted in the slot 60 at the end of the member 48 until the V-shaped guide tip 50 is in contact with the key blank in the vise II when the cutting wheel is in contact with the key blank in the vise I2. When thus adjusted, the shell is turned until the calibrations indicate the zero position, whereupon the jam nut 51 is tightened against the shell to hold such adjustment.

When the beveled tipis removed, the turning of the shell to the mark indicating the flat key position will bring the guide tip 5I into proper registry with the margin of the disk saw 31 so that the cutting of flat keys can be undertaken. When a flat key to be copied and a flat key blank are mounted respectively in the vises II and I2, care must be taken to accurately clamp the same in identical relation to the respective disk saw slotting device and the guide control member. This is best accomplished by placing said key and key blank in the respective clamps loosely and allowing the ends thereof to strike against the side of the flat guide tip 5| and the side of the disk saw 31 at the same time. The clamps can then be firmly secured and the duplicating of the flat key carried on with absolute accuracy.

When a code key is to be cut, in place of using an original key to be copied, such as the key 1I in Figure 3, a special spacing guide key 12, such as is shown in Figure 4, is used in the vise I I. This special spacing guide key it will be noted has teeth of even height throughout its length, but with different longitudinal spacing. The notches between these teeth accordingly serve as a guide for the alinement with the beveled guide tip 50 when a code key is to be cut, the depth of the cut being regulated through the use of the proper setting of the calibrations about the circumference of the shell, a few of which have been indicated by the reference characters 13, 14, 15, the reference point 16 being indicated on the outer surface of the body 43. Thus when a code number such as ST345 is received as representing the key of a Studebaker car, the shell is turned to the proper setting for the depth of cut of the first notch of a key of that type, and after such cut is completed, is turned to the second notch and each of the succeeding notches in turn until the key blank 11 held in the companion vise I2 has been cut to the proper depth throughout its entire length. In this manner, where a key is lost and the number ascertained from any available data, a replacement of the key can be made readily by any party having a machine of the character herein described.

When a code key of the two-sided type is to be replaced, a selected two-sided spacing guide key is clamped in the vise I I, the registry plate being used to engage the slot on the under side thereof and the narrow edge or fiange 21 of the clamping member of the vise being used to grip the inner edge of the spacing guide key immediately behind the upraised rib over the slot. The key is inserted from the left hand side of the vise until the inner shoulder on the key bears against the face of the vise. A two-sided code key blank is inserted in the other vise I2 in like manner. The shell 55 is then turned until the setting corresponds to what is vcalled for in the code key tabulation to determine the depth of the first cut. T'he cutting member is then operated and after the first cut is made to the proper depth the guide control member is adjusted by means of a further setting of the shell until the guide point 50 is in the proper position to limit the depth of the second cut, and then the second cut is made accordingly. This operation is repeated until the entire length of the keyr blank has been operated on and the indentations completed along one side of the key blank. The spacing guide key is then removed from the vise II and reversed, being engaged therein from the right hand side and firmly clamped as heretofore'descrlbed. The

are made progressively in the same mannerras the cuts on the first ,side` of such blank as just` described.

Fromwhat has been above stated, it will be noted that an extremely compact simple apparatus has been provided which is adapted to perform any necessary operations to duplicate an original key directly from vsuch key, or to replace a lost code key through the use of suitable special spacing guide key members and specialv adjustments of the limit stop guide tip. Y

The method involved in the replacement of code keys includes the steps of cutting keys from special code key data through the spacing of the longitudinal position of the cuts on the edge .of the key blank by reference to a standardguide member giving such spacing, and thereafter providing for the depth of each of the respective cuts progressively along the length Vof the key blank by referencev to a limit guide suitably changed for each individual cut to determine the depth thereof.

This method as applied to a two-sided code key involves in addition tothe steps above set forth, reversing the key blank after the proper inden- .tations have been made Yalong one side thereof,

and referring the spacing of. the cuts onV such reverse side of the key blank to a standard guide member suitably reversed to provide proper spacing, and thereafter providing for the depth of Ieach of the respective cuts progressively along the Vlength of the second side of the key blank Yby reference to a limit guide suitably changed for each individual cut vto determine the depth thereof.Y

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may beV employed insteady of those ex-y plained, change being made as regards the means and steps herein disclosed, provided the means statedA by any of the following claims or theV equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus of the character described having in combination, a base member, a workholder movably mounted thereon, a pair of key vises supported on said work-holder, one of said vises being adapted to hold a guide key element andthe other of said vises being adapted to` hold avkey blank, a guide'control member mounted in the path of movement of said guide key element, a rotary cutting member mounted in the path of movement of the key blank, means for registering the guide key element and key blank inrtheir respective vises in alinement with the guide plane and cutting plane respectively of said guide'member and cutting member, means forV changing the longitudinal position of the guide member Vin its support, said means comprisingY a slidable guide control member Vcarrying a guide tip' mounted on a section held against'rotation in said support, and means associated with said section for shifting the same longitudinally, said section having a supplemental tip with means for holding said guide member in adjusted Vposition at substantially the same point of registry whichever tip is used through adjustment of said slidable section.

2. An apparatus of the character described having in combination, a base member, a work- .holder movably mounted thereon, a pair of key path of movement of the key blank, means forA registeringv the guide key. element and key blank in their respective vises in alinement with' the guide'plane and cutting plane respectively of said guide member and cutting member, means for changing the longitudinal position of the guide member inits support, said means com'- prising a slidable guide control member carrying a guide tip mounted on a section held against rotation in said support, and means associated with said section for shifting the same longitudinally, and having indicia to coordinate the longitudinal shifting of said guide tip with the transverse position of the work-'holding member ateach cutting point.

3. An apparatus of the character described having in combination, a base member, a workholder movably mounted thereon, aY pair of keyl vises supported on said work-holder, one of said vises being adapted to hold a guide key element 'and the other'ofsaid vises being adapted to.hold

a key blank, a-guide control member mounted in the. path of movementv of said guidev key element, a rotary cutting member mounted in the path of movement of theV key blank, means for'registering the guide key element and key blank intheir respective vises in alinement with the guide plane and cutting plane respectively 5 gitudinal position of each successive cutting point 'v provided on said guide key element.

4. A guide control head member for a. key ma-fV chine comprising a body member having an aperture centrally of the same, a combined guide v' control and limit stop member having anonrotatable section slidably mounted in said aperture for-longitudinal movement therein, said movement being transversely of the key machine,

calibrated means for shifting said combined guide control and limit stop member longitudinally, and means for adjusting and positively locking said calibrated means at predetermined alternative positions for control of the combined guide control and limit stop member for flat keys and cylinder lock keys respectively.

5. A guide control headmember for a key'machine comprising a body member having an aper-`V ture centrally of the same, a combined guide control and limit stop member having a nonrotatable section slidably mounted in said aper-V ture for longitudinal movement therein, said movement being transversely of the key machine, calibrated means for shifting said combined guide control'and limit Vstop member longitudinally, Y

means for preventing displacement of said member in any adjusted position, and means for adjusting and positvely'locking said calibrated means at predetermined alternative positions for control of thecombined guide controland limit stop member for flat keys and cylinder lock keys respectively.

6. A guide control head member for a key machine comprising a body member having an aperture centrally of the same, a combined guide control and limit stop member having a nonrotatable section slidably mounted in said aperture for longitudinal movement therein, said movement being transversely of the key machine, said guide control member comprising a slidable non-rotatable forward section carrying a key guide tip and a screw-threaded rearward section rotatably engaged with said forward section for shifting said forward section forwardly or rearwardly, and means for holding said member in any desired position of adjustment.

7. A guide control head member for a key machine comprising a body member having an aperture centrally of the same, a guide control member slidably mounted in said aperture for longitudinal movement therein, said movement being transversely of the key machine, said guide control member comprising a slidable non-rotatable forward section carrying a key guide tip and a screw-threaded rearward section rotatably engaged with said forward section for shifting said forward section forwardly or rearwardly, and a shell engaged over said body member and adapted to be locked in adjusted position with said screw-threaded member, whereby movement of said shell will shift said sliding forward section.

8. A guide control head member for a key machine comprising a body member having an aperture centrally of the same,a guide control member slidably mounted in said aperture for longitudinal movement thereim said movement being transversely of the key machine, said guide control member comprising a slidable non-rotatable forward section carrying a key guide tip and a screw-threaded rearward section rotatably engaged with said forward section for shifting said forward section forwardly or rearwardly, a shell engaged o-ver said body member and adapted to be locked in adjusted position with said screwthreaded Y member, whereby movement of said shell will shift said sliding forward section, and

means for locking said shell in one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

9. A guide control head member for a key machine comprising a body member having an apen ture centrally of the same, a guide control member slidably mounted in said aperture for longitudinal movement therein, said movement being transversely of the key machine, said guide control member comprising a slidable non-rotatable forward section carrying a key guide tip and a screw-threaded rearward section rotatably engaged with said forward section for shifting said forward section forwardly or rearwardly, a shell engaged o-ver said body member and adapted to be locked in adjusted position with said screwthreaded member, whereby movement of said shell will shift said sliding forward section, and calibrations on said shell and said body member for shifting said forward sliding member to predetermined positions transversely of the key machine to regulate progressive depths of cut for cutting code keys.

10. A vise for a key machine comprising a body member, a reversible clamping plate engaged over said body member, a key registry plate mounted on said body member adjacent said clamping member preliminary to clamping engagement with the key element inserted in said vise and movable away from such position after the completion of such adjustment.

11. A vise for a key machine comprising a body member, a reversible clamping plate engaged over said body member, a key registry plate mounted on said body member adjacent said clamping member preliminary to clamping engagement with the key element inserted in said vise and movable away from such position after the completion of such adjustment, and a registry arm mounted upon another face of said head member transversely of said registry plate to determine the longitudinal position of a key element having only a forward shoulder when inserted in said vise and movable away from such position as soon as the element has been clamped in said vise.

CHARLES E. TURRELL. 

